Rubenstein School Professor and Gund Institute Fellow Bill Keeton gave an hour of technical testimony in support of a forest carbon offset bill to the Vermont House Natural Resources and Energy Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier this past Thursday. Last fall, a group of Vermont state legislators attending the UVM Legislative Summit were inspired by Professor Keeton's talk on forest carbon markets.

The Legislature has since introduced a bill (H. 372) that would promote forest carbon offset projects in Vermont, helping to fight climate change while conserving forestlands. At his April 30th testimony, Professor Keeton discussed findings from his own research and work conducted at the Rubenstein School, the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, and the Northeastern States Research Cooperative.

Professor Keeton's testimony follows on the heels of three other Rubenstein School and Gund faculty who recently gave testimony to Vermont lawmakers: Professor Jon Erickson on the carbon tax, Research Assistant Professor Gillian Galford on climate change, and Associate Professor Jennie Stephens on solar energy.